How to Bottle Feed Baby Lambs

How to Bottle Feed Baby Lambs. A lamb is sometimes excluded because the mother is overwhelmed with a large number of young and too tired to care for them all. Other times a lamb becomes ill shortly after birth and has trouble nursing. When these things happen, human caretakers must bottle feed lambs in order for them to receive proper nutrition. Proper bottle feeding technique will give the lamb the best possible chance to receive the vital milk needed for survival.

Things Needed

• Lamb milk replacer powder
• Warm water
• Plastic baby bottle with nipple

Step 1

Prepare the bottle before attempting to feed the lamb so it will not become impatient or panic. Mix lamb milk replacer powder with warm water in a plastic bottle with nipple (silicone or latex) attached. A plastic water bottle with a pop top lid can also work.

Step 2

Hold the lamb in one arm and pry its mouth open with the same hand. Hold the bottle in your dominant hand and place the nipple into the lamb's mouth.

Step 3

Squeeze the bottle gently to release a few drops of milk to signal the lamb to drink. Watch to see if it understands and starts to suck the bottle. If not, continue to squeeze the bottle and release more milk. The lamb will get the hang of sucking after a few attempts.

Step 4

Feed the lamb every 2 hours--every 3 to 4 hours at night. The lamb needs 5 ounces of milk per day for every pound it weighs. Determine the total ounces of milk the lamb needs and divide by the total number of feedings to determine how many ounces to feed it each time. This schedule only holds true for the first 24 hours; after that you can feed the lamb late at night and then early in the morning. During the day you still feed the lamb every 3 to 4 hours. After the first week, the length of time can stretch to every 5 to 6 hours.

References

• The Real Owner: How To Care For Bottle Baby Lambs